The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-10-21
SAVED BY A JACK.
a story OF the plains.
BY FRANK W. oALKINs.

ihe South Platte river, some 80 miles
above the little station of Julesburgh.
We had Embarrassed the horses from
our big wagon and picketed them out
to feed near the high stockade of a
solitary ranch station. Over the top
Of the stockade posts the g~rass-grown
roofs of several adobe cabins were visi-
bic. On the roof of one OF these a
half grown antelope kid was industri-
ously cropping the heritage. and by its
side lay another. s~erenley asleep. its
head thrown back Oyer its shoulder.
Beyond the stockade and adjoining
H. was another Enclosure of several
acres, surrounded by a high board
fen ce; a large stock corral, in fact, in
which several ponies were standing,
IASily whisking away the flies, evidently
too much overcome by the flies to
make any further exertiOn. These and
Ehe antelopes were the only signs of life
about the place.
Guess this ranch takes a of it
self" remarked n of our party, who
at that moment was attending to a
skillet of ~venison steak over a fire Of
dry drift sticks, which he had picked
up on the banks of the river. Guess
old Cliff would stir up these fellows, if
be knew they all went of'n left the
house with a couple of tame antelopes
for guard"
On the first hating for the night, we
had ratified at the gate of the stOckade.
in the hope that we might be let in and
given a chance for fresh water at the
well; but the gate was barred inside,
and the place was apparently deserted.
We rather wondered at that, for we
had heard of this ranch, and knew it
to be one of the Cattle King '"Clif's
outpost "@ound up point for the
great range over which his thousands
of cattle fed, winter and summer. But
rs we sat down to our supper Of bis
Ouits, steak, canned tomatoes, and
coffee, we heard the big gate of the
stockade squeak on its hinges, and a
moment later there sauntered out to us
atall, strapping young fellow in wool
on shirt and buckskin leggins. He had
on his head a wide brimmed, white
wool hat, with a red leather band, and
on his feet high-topped, high-heeied
boots, at the counters of which jingled
= pair of Spanish spurs.
There was also a pair of big Colts"
in his belt. His wooden shirt was open
in 'front.' the sleeves were rolled up to
the elbow and the deep ta~n-color of his
arms matched well the bronze of the
breast, neck and face. He had the
biggest and fiercest Of black moustach-
Is and a pair of sharp black eyes to
match it.
A remarkable figure, perhaps the
reader may think. but one that, with
some modification of form OF feature,
win soon grow familiar to the camper
in the 'cattle country"
s.HulIo," feilers ~ said this specimen
cowboy, as he came up and leaned his
elbow upon the hind wheels of our
wagon.
"Hullo," said we; and then, in the
short suggestive parlance Of the coun-
try. we asked. Eat r.
''You betl'' was the cheerful rejoind-
OK. and the stockman flung himself
down into the circle about our oilcloth.
and was helped to a pint cup OF coffee
and some tomatoes. and helped himself
literally to biscuit and fir ed antelope.
SCOT rothin' but cold grub in the
the ranch he explained between
mouthfuIs. FAN it's too mighty hot to
makes fires now. Nobody here bGs. me;
boys gone up on Lodgs Pold to run in
the strays. BEN asleep all the after
noon Ratified the gate did YEP Wall,
now. / must be a snoozerl Curis what
risks a man'H take in this country.
Now. here's you fellows trailin' about
all alone. the four Of We. and me here
a-sIeepin' alone, in a dobe,s an six
hundred Cheyennes turned loose on
the country above
Fact" he said, cody. noticing our
looks Of surprise, not unmixed with
alarm. Yes, sir; runner come down
from the rancA above an warned me
yesterday. They've Quilted one ranch
up there, killed 4 bowman an run off !
lot 8 stock; expect EN- down here any
time. A lot of 'em come down here
last wear and caught us snoozin, right
10 broad day noon. too
Tae reader mag be sure we we're not
little alarmed at such news. though
We hardly knew whether to credit the
fellows word or not
He might be trying on the cowboy
and miners fayorise pastime-that d
Nt 80 u HL.a - ~